The Department of Health (DOH) has reported an uptick in cases of heart attacks, strokes, and asthma as 2025 comes to a close. From December 21 to 4:59 a.m. on December 31, the DOH recorded a total of 288 cases, marking a 5% increase from 274 cases during the same period in 2024.

On December 31 alone, 31 new cases were added to the DOH surveillance data. Among these conditions, acute stroke, also known as a brain attack, remains the leading cause of death.

A breakdown of cases from December 21 to early December 31 shows:

• Acute Coronary Syndrome (Heart Attack): 28 of 77 cases occurred in patients aged 60-69

• Acute Stroke: 53 of 180 cases occurred in patients aged 60-69

• Bronchial Asthma: 8 of 31 cases occurred in children aged 0-9

Health authorities continue to urge the public, particularly older adults and those with pre-existing conditions, to maintain proper health precautions and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms occur.